India and West Indies are set to commence their 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a two-match away Test series. The highly anticipated series will take place at the Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica, and the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Having clashed 98 times in the red ball format, the West Indies currently hold the advantage with 30 wins against India’s 22, while 46 matches have ended in a draw. Throughout the years, there have been numerous standout performances, with players like Sunil Gavaskar, Gary Sobers, Clive Lloyd, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara, Virat Kohli, Kraigg Brathwaite, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, and Kemar Roach making remarkable contributions.
When it comes to Test records, there are several noteworthy statistics from the encounters between India and the West Indies. The West Indies recorded their lowest total of 100 all out at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound in 2019. Sunil Gavaskar tops the list of most runs for India against the West Indies, amassing 2749 runs in 48 innings. As for the West Indies’ current leading run-scorer against India, it is Kraigg Brathwaite with 448 runs in 21 innings.
In terms of double hundreds, Rohan Kanhai, Faoud Bacchus, Clive Lloyd, Frank Worrell, Carl Hooper, and Everton Weekes have each scored one for the West Indies against India in the history of their Test encounters. However, as of now, none of the current West Indies players have achieved this feat. Sunil Gavaskar’s highest score of 236 not out off 425 balls in Chennai in 1983 remains the highest ever for India against the West Indies. Virat Kohli holds the record for the highest individual score for India against the West Indies in current times, with an impressive knock of 200 off 283 balls in North Sound in 2016. For the West Indies, Rohan Kanhai’s 256 at Eden Gardens in 1958 stands as their highest score ever, while Kraigg Brathwaite’s 74 in Kingston in 2016 is their highest in recent times.
In terms of bowling records, Kapil Dev leads with 89 wickets in 41 innings for India against the West Indies in the all-time records. R Ashwin currently holds the record for the most wickets for India against the West Indies, with 60 wickets in 21 innings. For the West Indies, Macolm Marshall takes the top spot with 76 wickets in 30 innings in the all-time records, while Jason Holder holds the record for the current West Indies players with 14 wickets in 10 innings.
Noteworthy bowling performances include Harbhajan Singh’s five five-wicket hauls for India against the West Indies in the all-time records, while R Ashwin has achieved this feat four times in current stats. Malcolm Marshall holds the record for the West Indies with six five-wicket hauls against India in the all-time records, and Jason Holder leads the current players with two five-wicket hauls.
As for the best bowling innings, Kapil Dev’s remarkable figures of 9 for 83 in Ahmedabad in 1983 top the list for India against the West Indies in the all-time records. R Ashwin’s outstanding performance of 7 for 83 in North Sound in 2016 holds the record for the current players. In the West Indies’ all-time records, Jack Noreiga’s 9 for 95 in Port of Spain in 1971 remains the best bowling innings against India, while Jason Holder’s 5 for 56 in Hyderabad in 2018 is the best by a current West Indies player.
The upcoming Test series between India and the West Indies is bound to be a thrilling contest, with both teams looking to make their mark in the World Test Championship. Fans can expect top-class performances from the current stars, making their respective nations proud and adding new chapters to the already illustrious history of Test cricket between India and the West Indies.
